Foundation garment



April 14, 1953 A. J. KAPLAN FOUNDATION GARMENT Fixed June 15, 1950 INVZENITOR. Aferf ll AMA- 44 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,634,417 FOUNDATION GARMENT I Albert J. Kaplan; Hobokcn, N. J.

Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,835

2 Claims. (01. 2-37) My invention relates generally to foundation garments and specifically to foundation garments characterized by the ability 'to stretch in two directions in most areas, but in only one direction in certain restricted areas.

It among the objects of my invention to provide a foundation garment which can stretch horizontally to accommodate the girth of the wearer, but it is restricted in its ability to stretch vertically in the abdominal area, thereby tending to provide an uplift for the abdomen.

It is a further ob ect of my invention to provide a foundation garment which is restricted in its stretching capacity in the area of the hip of the wearer, but is nevertheless capable of vertical stretch in the area to accommodate the motion of the thighs when the wearer is walking.

It is among the further objects of my invention to control the abdomen, to mold the hips and to stretch to accommodate leg action.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a garment which supplies a gentle massage action with the movement of the wearer, thereby providing a slenderizing effect.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a relatively impervious covering for certain restricted areas of the body covered by my foundation garment, so that perspiration will be encouraged and a slenderizing effect will be produced thereby.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a foundation garment with a frontal abdominal insert that is horizontally stretchable, but not vertically stretchable.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a foundation garment with side inserts that are relatively stretchless horizontally, but vertically stretchable.

These objects and advantages, as well as many other objects and advantages, are attained by the foundation garment illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view;

Figure 2 is a side view;

Figure 3 is an inside View with the body out apart and stretched open;

Figure 4 is a front view of the garment as it is disposed upon the body of the wearer;

Figure 5 is a view of the abdominal panel; and

Figure 6 is a view of the side panel.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my foundation garment has a tubular fabric body II whose weft and warp are both elasticized. Thus the garment is of the character colloquially referred to as a two-way stretch. This term is applied to garments whose fabric is capable of elastic extension both in length and in width. A suitable binding I2 is applied to the top edge and the bottom edge of the body I I. In the front of the tubular body II, there is applied to its inner side, an abdominal insert or front panel I3. This insert I3 has a straight top edge I4 which is attached to the body II to coincide with its top front edge. The side edges I5, I6 descend and then curve together to form an arcuate bottom edge IT. The preferred manner of attachment of the panel I3 is by zig-zag stitching with a thread of great tensile strength. The panel I3 is formed of a fabric which is stretchable in one direction only and is attached to the body II: the panel I3 therefore is stretchable in the direction of a line running across the body II. Thus this panel I3 tends to reinforce the elasticity of the garment insofar as it is able to stretch horizontally with the abdomen of the wearer and allow for accommodation or stretch outwardly. Since this panel is non-elastic in a vertical direction, it tends to resist the downward or falling tendency of the abdomen of the wearer, thereby greatly limiting the capacity of the body II to stretch downwardly. The net effect of this panel is to permit the garment body II to expand and adapt itself in girth to the abdominal area of the wearer, and yet to restrict the downward bulge of the abdomen and to provide an uplift for it.

At opposite sides of the body II, there are applied to its inner side, identical hip inserts or side panels I8, I8. These side panels I8, I8 have a straight bottom edge I9 which coincides with the bottom edge of the body I I. .The side edges 20, 2I

rise upwardly and then curve together to form an arcuate top edge 22. These panels are likewise attached to the inner side of the body II by stitching with thread of great tensile strength. These panels are formed of material which is stretchable only in one direction and relatively resistant to stretching in its other dimension. The material for these panels I8, I8 may have the same characteristics as the material used in the panel I3, but it is rotated and applied to the body with is axis of stretch disposed vertically. The result of this is that the garments stretchability in a horizontal plane is restricted. The restriction is at the side of the hip area, so that the hips are held in. But since this garment covers the side of the hip area, the movement of the legs of the wearer must be allowed for. Consequently, the garment is stretchable in a vertical direction, to allow for the movement of the thighs up and down when the legs are moved, as in walking. The stress lines 23 are not a structural feathe panels are of a relatively impervious material,

such as rubber, perspiration may be encouraged,

whereby a reducing effect is achieved. A

The foregoing specification is intended merely to be illustrative of one embodiment of my invention, for many changes may be made in the construction, selection and arrangement of the various parts, and the materials of which they are formed, all of which will be within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. A foundation garment comprising a stretchable tubular body member, a panel substantially coextensive with the central abdominal area stretchable only in its width and attached at its edges to the inside of the front of the body member at the top of said body member and extending toward the bottom of the garment, and

panels substantially coextensive with the side of the hip area stretchable only in their length,

and each attached at its edges to the inside of the sides of the body member at the bottom of said body member and extending toward the top of the garment.

2. A foundation garment comprising a stretchable tubular body member, a panel substantially coextensive with the central abdominal area stretchable only in its width and attached at its edges to the front of the body member at the top of said body member, and extending toward the bottom of the garment, panels substantially coextensive with the side of the hip area stretchable only in their length each attached at its edges, to the sides of the body member at the bottom of said body member and extending toward the top of the garment.

ALBERT J. KAPLAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,092,900 Wipperman Sept. 14, 1937 2,120,817 Simon June 14, 1938 2,123,848 Gordon July 12, 1938 2,338,193 McMichael Jan. 4, 1944 2,519,602 Rago Aug. 22, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 657,403 France Jan. 15, 1929 818,430 France June 14, 1937 

